Pleasure Point man loses everything in fire

PLEASURE POINT -- Stepping out of the shower Saturday evening, Will Bernardi smelled something burning.

Wearing boxer shorts, he stepped outside his home on 41st Avenue to check the garage. Opening the garage door, smoke billowed up at him.

He rushed back into the house to grab his cellphone and his pit bull mix, Ziggy. Bernardi scrambled to find the keys to his pickup parked in the driveway, but he couldn't find them in the room as it filled with smoke.

They got out and he called 911 -- standing in his boxers on the street.

Firefighters arrived and contained the fire in about 30 minutes.

"It was pretty helpless, watching everything you have disappear in 15 minutes," said Bernardi, a 24-year-old motorcycle technician.

No one was hurt, but nearly everything in the home was destroyed. Bernardi's pickup, all of his clothes, furniture, surfboards, motorcycles and the tools his father had passed down to him were ruined.

Bernardi's family and friends are now trying to help him get his life back on track and raise money to replace what he lost. Adam Bernardi, Will's older brother and a general contractor, said he hoped to rebuild the gutted three-bedroom townhouse. Will was the only one living in the unit.

Will, who works at Zero Motorcycles Inc. in Scotts Valley, has been staying at his parents' home in Scotts Valley.

"We're just trying to let him know that there's people that have been there before and show support," Adam Bernardi said. "Imagine if you woke up tomorrow and had nothing but a pair of boxers."

Adam Bernardi said his brother hoped to replace some of his clothes and maybe a surfboard. Will lost six surfboards, three motorcycles and three wetsuits in the blaze.

Will's other brother, Chris Bernardi, set up a website this week with a short video about the fire and a request for online donations. To donate, click here.

Will had renter's insurance, and his father who owned the unit at 601 41st Ave. had homeowner's insurance.

Other homes near the fire were spared.

Central firefighters investigated the fire this week but have not determined its cause, said Central Fire spokesman Mike DeMars.

A plugged-in battery, gasoline and butane torches were in the garage, DeMars said.

Will said Thursday that he was dealing with his losses. He was thankful that he and Ziggy weren't hurt.

"It's been all right. It's been a slow process so far, he said Thursday. "I've been living up here up with my parents. I've had a lot of support from friends and family, so that's good."